State of the Nation | Monday, June 19, 2017

Launceston’s weather forecast

A broad ridge of high pressure is expected to persist over southern Australia throughout the forecast period, maintaining a westerly flow over Tasmania. The dominant high, currently near Adelaide, will move over Victoria today then persist for several days. A cold front will pass well south of Tasmania today, with another front to then cross the state tomorrow night. This will be followed by a colder southwesterly flow on Wednesday, forecast to ease before tending northwesterly on Thursday.

The Examiner’s top stories

► After supporting those in need across the state for almost 60 years The Examiner hopes to raise more than $50,000 for its annual Winter Relief Appeal. Editor Courtney Greisbach said it was a privilege to partner with four Launceston charities, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Launceston Benevolent Society, the Salvation Army and the Launceston City Mission. Read more.

► Known as the ‘forgotten war’, a Tasmanian historian is striving to keep the Boer War in people’s minds. About 860 Tasmanians, of which 50 per cent were from Northern Tasmania, participated in the three-year conflict. Read more.

► Liffey Falls walking track and picnic area has reopened to the public after the completion of repairs. The picnic area and walking track were damaged during the June floods. Read more.

State of the nation

Need a national news snapshot first thing - well, we have you covered.

Regional news

►Albury: Albury: NOBODY was injured when a car drove through the emergency fire doors at Albury’s Commercial Club on Sunday morning.

Inspector Ian Youman, of Albury police, said a 79-year-old Wodonga man had been attempting to correct his park in the club’s car park about 9.30am. Read on.

► Newcastle: She was there “to lend a hand” or foot by pushing celebrity sliders into a pool of ice-cold water.

But Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes proved a good sport when she agreed to also take the plunge for Motor Neurone Disease as part of the inaugural BigFreeze, Newcastle at No.1 Sportsground on Saturday. Read on.

► Bathurst: A COMMUNITY survey of bird populations within the Bathurst region has confirmed fears that feral species are becoming increasingly dominant in the local area.

Ninety-five Bathurst volunteers took part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, sitting for 20 minutes at a time and using a phone app or website to record the birds they saw. More here.

► Canberra: About 20,000 cupcakes, three years of lessons and countless trips to Cowra later, Jerrabomberra teenager Jade Esler can enjoy the sweet taste of success after becoming Australia's youngest licensed recreational pilot.

The bright Merici College student completed the practical pilot's licence test on Saturday - her 16th birthday. More here.

► BALLARAT: SIX-year-old Archie Sims would love to turn corners and walk about school with his friends. He is gradually building up leg strength to walk upright and now has hope to get turning sooner. Disability advocate Scope will launch the first mobile specialised physiotherapy for rural children this week in Ballarat. More here.

National news

► Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch has slammed the Victorian Supreme Court for threatening three Turnbull government ministers with contempt charges, saying the judiciary is not above criticism and he would have told the court to "go jump".Read on.

► Naked bodies adorned with offal and drenched in blood; a frenzied crowd tearing at the bloodied insides of a cow carcass with their bare hands. Sound like a fun weekend out? On Saturday Austrian "Aktionism" artist Hermann Nitsch and a team of performers staged a controversial "action" in Hobart as part of the annual Dark Mofo festival. Full report here.

Hermann Nitsch, 122.Action, Burgtheater, 2005. To be used in conjunction with MONA Dark Mofo 2017 festival.

National weather radar:

World news:

►Sumatra: Ardi Rizal is known around the world as "Indonesia's smoking baby". Shocking footage of the toddler precociously puffing on fags went viral on YouTube and became a symbol of the smoking crisis in a country described as a last Eden for tobacco manufacturers.

Jewel Topsfield These are photos of Ardi Rizal, the Indonesian toddler who started smoking when he was two and kicked the habit when he was four. I took the photos. Some of them are holding up a YouTube video of his younger smoking self and some are with his mother Diane.

► London:

"This is a tale of two cities."

An emotional British politician has invoked Charles Dickens while describing the injustices of this week's Grenfell Tower fire in London, imploring Britain to care for its poor.

Labour MP David Lammy, who spent his childhood playing in a housing estate in Tottenham, in northern London, says he is heartbroken. Read on.